Trial begins for N.J. dad accused of killing son
David Creato appears in court Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Camden, NJ. Creato is accused of killing his 3-year-old son in October 2015 because he allegedly was an impediment to his relationship with a teenage girlfriend. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and child endangerment charges. He remains jailed on $750,000 bail. (Joe Lamberti/Camden Courier-Post via AP, Pool)
Testimony began at the murder trial of a New Jersey father accused of killing his 3-year-old son because he had become an impediment to his relationship with a teenage girlfriend.
During opening statements Thursday, the prosecution told jurors 23-year-old David Creato was consumed with jealousy at the time his 3-year-old son’s body was found in the woods by the Cooper River near their Haddon Township home in October 2015.
The boy’s mother testified she secretly recorded Creato suggesting maybe “the spirit of the lake” had drawn their son to the stream in the dead of night.
Creato’s lawyer told jurors Creato’s relationship was unhealthy and his spiritual nature was strange, but that doesn’t make him guilty. He has pleaded not guilty.
Testimony is due to resume Tuesday.
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